Despite Masuk discontent, 'Brennan our football coach'

Michael Fornabaio

Updated 12:42 am, Friday, August 30, 2013

MONROE -- Masuk athletic director John DeGennaro said it in simple terms on his way out of a meeting with parents Thursday night.

"Dave Brennan is our head football coach," DeGennaro said after an hour-long and reportedly sometimes contentious meeting, after discontent among some Panthers players and parents surfaced over the methods of Masuk's new coach.

A source said over 30 players had left the team at some point during the preseason. DeGennaro said "we had our full team at the scrimmage (Wednesday)." A New Haven Register report Thursday quoted a parent who hoped the administration would replace Brennan.

DeGennaro reiterated that Thursday night's meeting was the school's annual fall meeting for parents and coaches. It began with all sports in the auditorium before they split up, football heading into the library.

Parents and administrators entered just before 7 p.m. and broke up just after 8. Several parents offered no comment on the meeting on their way out, some directing questions to DeGennaro.

"(Brennan) has a full vote of confidence as our head football coach," DeGennaro said.

Brennan was hired in February to replace John Murphy, who resigned at the end of the 2012 season after 16 seasons and three state championships. Murphy later took the head coaching job at New Milford, the Panthers' Week 1 opponents.

Brennan had been a longtime assistant, most recently defensive coordinator at Ridgefield. Voicemails to his cell phone were not immediately returned.

The CIAC's schedule has Masuk scrimmaging Saturday at Southington and Wednesday at Trumbull before beginning the regular season Sept. 12 at New Milford.